Hollywood Actor Danny Trejo Opened New Restaurant in Playhouse District Friday

By BRANDON VILLALOVOS

7:26 pm | June 16, 2017

Famous Hollywood actor-turned-entrepreneur Danny Trejo quietly opened the newest location of his Mexican inspired and taco centric restaurant chain, Trejo’s Cantina, early Friday afternoon and sits next door to the Pasadena Playhouse.

Trejo and his business partners and co-owners Jeff Georgino and Ash Shah saw a successful first day open thanks to a last minute social media post that instantly packed the house with hungry Pasadenans.

“Typically when we open restaurants we always hope that it will be a nice slow and easy day and we can train everybody, but it hasn’t happened yet. Word of mouth travels so fast nowadays that it’s hard for us to open without a full house,” explained Trejo’s Cantino Co-Owner Jeff Georgino.

The surprising soft opening of the restaurant that was once home to Red, White & Bluezz featured was open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Currently, Trejo’s Cantina is only serving a trimmed down lunch menu until the the finalized menu and staff training is completed.

“At each of the restaurants we have a very strong local community that’s coming, but we also have a lot of people that travel to come here,” explained Georgino.

Some unique pairings served at Trejo’s Cantina includes jackfruit tacos, cauliflower and tofu tacos, brisket tacos and more.

“There is a bigger expectation on dinner. People want to take more time and explore more interesting and different plates,” said Georgino. “There’s definitely something for everyone. We’re across the board,” said Georgino about the restaurant’s vegan and meat options.

Diners who enjoy adult drinks will find a selection of up to 30 different mezcal options, speciality cocktails like “Rumchata”, a vodka concoction called the “Gringo” and more.

The full dinner menu and extended hours are expected to be offered in the coming weeks.

“Plates and the entrees we are doing for dinner — we’re 90 percent there,” said Georgino.

Pasadena is the third Trejo’s Cantina restaurant with other locations in Hollywood, Los Angeles and a recently established Trejo’s Coffee and Donuts in Los Angeles.

A fourth location is expected to come to the USC area later this year.

Trejo’s Cantina in Pasadena is located at 37 S. El Molino Ave. and is open daily from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.